Water-meter.



PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

1 R2. mmo S D HMM mmf .N HTW GAM WG I 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

0. HIERSING.

PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mgncilrsawings. l invention relates tion for` that class of water-meters commonly AUnuTii) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO HIERSING, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO lUNION WATER METER I COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WATER-METER, l

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented apni 14, ieos'.'

Appleman mea sabba- 2, 1907. serial No. 395,557.

ToaZZ z/zzhofrnfitV Vmay concern:

Beit knownl that I, OTTO -HIERsING, a

subject; vof. the King of Norwa residing at `Worcester, in the county of which the following is a specification, refer-y, ence being made therein to the accompany-= known as current meters or velocityme- 'ters wherein a single revolving meterwheel is employed for imparting movement toa registering mechanism; the objects of Imy present invention being to provide a meter mechanism that is simple and convenient for manufacture eflicient and durable for f vertical section' (at line W practical use; and having peculiar features of construction and combinations such as more fully hereinafter-explained, and particularly tion substantially asillustratedin the accompan'ying drawings, wherein y Figure -1 represents a lon'givtudmal central a. Water-meter embodying 'my invention Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section ofthe sameat line X1 X on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the inner casing or wheel-race, with .the bearing.

the meter-wheel removed therefrom. Fig. 4

is a horizontal section ofI the same at linel Y Y on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa transverse vertical section of one of thebearing-heads, showing the deflector bell as made adjustable on Fig. 6 is a central vertical section of thebearing-head, showing the deflector bell as made mtegral with the bearings.

:Fig-7, re resents a side view of the meterwheel, a portion thereof being shown in sec-A 4.5

tion. Fig., y9 re resents a fragmentary sec- L. tion of the rim o the meter-wheel made with In the embodiment of my invention asv shown in the drawings, the shell -or' main lwith the outlet-Spud 2.

,stl'ucted, combined and organized for operaon Fig.` 2) of spuds 1 and 2 for connection'with the servicepipes; a removable cover 1'1`is pilpvided, carlying. an. upper casing 12 wit which the lregistering mechanism R, of any approved kind, is arranged and suitably connected 'with the'usual train of driving and speed-re1- to a novel construe` duing gearing G.- Thel prime axle 4 in said gear train receives its motion from the meterwheel axle 5. The main casing is internally formed with two horizontal partitions ,14 and 15 connected by' an upright barrier partition 16, disposed as shown, and integral with the globular shell, thereby separating the inte. i

rior into two inletchamber spaces C and C?, and an exit chamber D, the former communicating with'the inlet-spud 1 and the latter The horizontal partitions are each provided with a central cir'- cular seat -or opening within which the inner.

casing or wheel-race frame F is fitted and supported by suitable-annular flanges, as at 8.

he inner casing F is composed of two op .positely disposed annularv bearing-heads 17 and 19, of similar forni, and an intermediate frame or member'consistin'gof two rings, 20

and 21, united by a series vof upright posts, v

.standards or bars 22 with o en space between said posts. The hea s are 1espec. tively secured to the rings by screws s lor other suitable fastenings. The inner'casing is detachably secured in position within the main casin by button screws 18, as'shown in Fig. 2. vThe bearingheads .17 and 19 are each. rovided with an annular inwardly turne or retro-curved ange 7, Aapproiii- -mately semicircular in cross section, so that their edges are directed outward; also with concentrically arranged bearings 27 and 29,. integrally connected therewith by bracing. arms 6 of thin l'at'proportions,.and standing edgewise in relation to the direction of the lowage.'- Upon each of the bearings I pro- 26) the larger endsofwhich (are towards each other,-While their flared rims, which are preferably of concavo-conoidal form,

lvide a flaring cone or deflector bell (24 and Vico a roachtlie reverse outward curvature of tlie earing-head flanges' 7, and combination therewithformdownward and upward vorfarther from the outwar y turned part of the fiange 7, and thus vary the area'or size of the annular discharge space, as desired.

The meter-wheel 30- is arran ed for centrifugal action, and compriseseJ` rub iixed on the axis shaft 5, and a cylindridalrr'im consisting of upper and lower ring portions, and an intermediate lportion having passages or slots 3 formed t erethrough at suitable intervals, with solid material 33 between the slots. The slots are disposed at an angle to the radial of their position of about fortyiive degrees, more or less, in their horizontal plane; and approximately parallel with the' wheel axis in their Avertical planes. The slots are preferably of uniform width at both the inner and outer faces of the wheel rim, (see Fig. 8.) l

The hub, arms and rim ofj the wheel are preferably-formed .of hard vulcanized rubber,

or other suitable light material. In the construction of the wheel the upper ring 31 may be attached to the body-portion 33 of the rim by screws .1.3, or other suitable means,'

(see Fig. 9) but the lower rin portion 32 is best made integral with the s otted` portionl .of the rim. In some instances, however, the rim can be made with both ring portions 31' and 32 integral with the intermediate ortion 33, as indicated in Fig. 10. Thewieel rim is armsv 34 with the hub rredupon the central shaft olf-aile 5-whieh-isproyidedwith upward'anrldownward projecting journals that are supported to turn inbearin s 27 Aand 29.

l The lower bearinggfisgpr'vide with 'a stepbearing stud 28 of hard rubberorsimilar material screwed therein, and u `orrwhich the rounded lower endof the whee journal supported. The bearing is best provided vso wit an o ening from the exteriortothe interior t ereof. The web or arms of the wheel 4are arranged at mid height of the body of the rim; and are preferabl' made thin and disposed horizontally atwise. Their edges may be beveled or rounded to readily pass through the water.

The curved flanges 7 ci' the bearing-heads terminate adjacent to and in line with the respective ring portions 31 and 32v of the wheel rim, and the enlarged or flaring ends ot' i the deflector members 24 and 26 are disposed *between said head flanges and the arms of the wheel, so that the current of water is Stdt .mounted and connected by'fsuitabledirected outward against the inner face of the wheel-rim a portion of the How passin downward through the u per bearing-head and a portion upward thr bearing-head as the liquid flows from the inlet chambers` C and/C1, thence centrifugall outward through the wheel into. the exit chamber, causing revolution of the wheel by reason oi.,the inclination of the slots.

The top end of the axis-shaft 5 is provided ough 'the lower with a cap member having a wire n inserted.

transversely therethrough and its ends bent upward,- as in Figs.. 11 and 12thereby forming a pronged and forked coupling head 37 that detachably engages a cross-bar 38 fixed' on the lower end ofthe primary spindle 4 ofl the reducing-gear train; power' and motion. being thus transmitted from' the meter-wheel to said gear train andthereby to the registering mechanism. The ear train-and register mechanism being of we l known construction need not be herein more fully described.

f The bell of the lower deflector 26 is prefer-A ably made oi somewhat less diameter than that of the upper delector 24, for the purpose `oi affording a greater 'volume of .current at the under side 'of the wheel. This excess of current tends to buoy up and overcome theA gravity of the wheel, thereby practically eliminating the friction of the bearing parts. By the adjustment of the delectors or cones the differential of currentA canbe regulated' to any degree required.

In some instances I provide upwardly or downwardly projecting fins orfwing-'langes 40 upon the upper or lower annular faces of the wheel rim; (see `Figs. 7, 8 and 10) said fins being best disposed upon the rim with an oblique trend in opposite direction to the inclination of the water-Way slots 3, and with greater or less degreeof inclination; the purpose thereof being to e'ect resistance whenv running under a high velocity of current or great volume of owage, and vto prevent over lregistering.by the wheel. Such iins or`pro- I claim- 1.M In water-meter of the character de scribed1the inner or wheel casing, consisting oitwo oppositely disposed bearing-heads each having an inwardly curved semicircular flange, a central bearingboss and brace arms supportingsaid bearing boss; in combina` tion with 'an intermediate frame consisting of upper and lower ringmembers that aflor annular' seats nrior said bearing-heads, and a series oi 'upright posts .uniting said ring 4 members, and having openings between said` posts.

2. In a water-'meter of the class described, a metere'wheel having a cylindrical rim comprising upper and lower'ring members and an intervening row inclined slots therethrough, said slots being vci. approximately uniform: width at the jections. may not in all instances be employed.

body portion with a series ofnarvand axisehait; in eombination ,with oppositelj,r arranged vwheel-heairingheads having means for supporting the wheel airis-shaft,

` and means for delivering Water currents from above and below 'the Wheel, outward through said slotted rim. l.

3. In a Water-meter oi the class described, a Ineterwheel comprising a central hub, an axle-shaft, and a concentric eylindrieel rim with arms or web members connecting said hub and rim at mid-height thereof, said rim. consisting oi upper and lower anniilar faceportions with an i.` 'evening botly-portion havin a series oi i r-'Wef slots disposed theret irongh obliqin, to the radial planes at their positions; nbination wits a Wheel casing 'rovided Wiss means for directing an upwar" and a downward enr .nt to 'the interior oi the wheel, l ror dedeeting the respeetive currents outward to inipinge on said slotted be een the nnper and lower annular iaee-po i passage through the ivo..

4. ln a Water-meter o the Combination, oi a ing a (Zentral ln e concentric eirenl posed Water-ways inet lar funnel-shaped bea having an inne" Within theinteri-oA oi the wheel bearing-boss supported said head, flaring. defleetor on inn" bearing-boss, the ad and deeetor 'emo wardly deliveries against the inner ei rnn.

5l in a water-meter, i" binatien, .of a suitable easing, a cent1 ings jr dist `fing metenwheel, eef aren having a series of o therethrough, ir water to said G-fl; and havin@ oni 5:). l an c said any ,niet me form annular ter# Ways tha ardly t' directed iets 1 rior oi the Wheel rim. Y

i3. in a watennieter the combination with asuitable easing, and meter registering mechanism; of a centril'ugally discharging meter- Wheel suitably connected for operating said vregistering mechanism, oppositely directing 7l ,ln a water-meter of 'the charaeter de,L scribed, the combination ofa eentrifugally discharging meter-Wheel, a metelewheelsas ing comprising bearing-heads each providedA i ivita inward under-curved flange,-a;cen.+ bearing-boss, andbracing arms'tha-tgstip; port the bearing-boss therein, the metervfheel axle mounted in said bearings, a laring or bell-shaped delector coacting with the flange of'each bearing-head to form an annular outwardly directed eripherally discharging Water-Way Within t e circle oithe Whee rim.

8. In a Water-meter, the combination with a meter-Wheel having a cylindrical rim.with a series of radially inclined slots or passages therethrough, a wheel-Casin comprising two annular bearing-heads, eac provided with an inward flange of ap roximately semioircular cross section, its' edge terminating adj acent to the inner face of the Wheel-rim, journal bearings supported within said bearingheads, and a Haring or bell-sha eddefleetor adjustably su ported on each o said journal bearings, its arger end standing lWithin the inner circle of the Wheel, said detleetor being afliustable towards or from the curved ange or the hearing-head.

il. The combination, With the main easing having inlet and outlet spuds, and rovided with two horizontal partitions Wit central f )peniiigs therein, and an upright barrier con-- nesting said partitions; of an inner casing comprising two circular seat portions, intervevening post members uniting said seat portions, and two oppositely disposed annular bearing-heads fit-ting the openings in said partitions and having bearingdiubs supportedeonoentrieally Within said heads, a eentrifum gally discharging meter-Wheel provided with annular face members, said Whe-el axially mounted in said bearings, and retro-curved Ranges on said bearing-heatils that extend into the respective ends of the Wheel and terminate adjacent to and in approximate alinement with its annular face members, and means i'or retaining said inner easing Within the niain'easing.

l0: 'in a Water-meter of the character de scribed, the combination of a meter-wheel hub, an upper and lower bearing-head Carrying the bearings for the axis-shaft above and below the wheel, said bearing-heads provided vfith passages for conducting a down Ward and an upward current. to the interior oi said wheel-rim, and a concave-colloidal deileetor u on the inner end of each bearing, the flare( terminal end ot the lower delector being of less diameter than that of the upper defieetor, for the purpose set forth.

11. In a Water-meter of the character de- I the annular riin-face, or faces, substanially scribed, the combination With the :meteras described. v10 `whe\el having a diagonally-slotted rim with Witness my hand this 26th day of Septemupper andvlower annular rim faces, and the ber, 1907.

5 bearing-heads v having inward` retro-curved OTTO HIERSING.

anges, 4the edges thereof approximately vWitnesses: matching theinner edges of the rim-faces; of ERNEST R. LADUKE,

the projecting resistance fins arranged upon l 1 MERRILL L. VVELCKER. 

